The history of the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church has its roots in the immigration of Scandinavian families to north central Iowa in the mid-nineteenth century. ...
As the new community grew, so did the awareness that there must be a Church to serve the spiritual needs of the people. The Rev. J.M. Dahl, pioneer pastor to these parts and instrumental in starting a number of congregations, had been calling on the families of the area and ministering to their needs. The first group meetings and services were held in the homes, later in the schoolhouse.
The original
name of the congregation was Ellington Lutheran Church, later changed
to Pilot Knob. The exact date of origin
is not certain.
The records
hold two dates, May 18, 1875, and October 6, 1875. The earlier date
may well have been temporary, the later permanent. According to Pastor
Dahl’s
own handwriting, the congregation was organized on Tuesday, May 18,
1875, following a communion service conducted by himself at the home
of Gunder
Kivle. This is the farm home presently owned and occupied by the Irvin
Hanson family. According to historical record there were seven Charter
Member Families: Gunder Kivle, Torstien Lien, Ole Hove, Nels Olson,
Nels Nelson, Gilbert Severson and Even Halvorson. —
Historical Resume, PKLC’s Centennial, 1975, p. 8
A
empty tomb 2000 years ago is the origin of the Church; a gathering of
believers 132 years ago is the origin of our congregation. The
day can
only be a date for all of us. None of us were there, and only
some direct descendants of those who were. But we are all linked, and
not simply
by membership to this church body, but The Church Body, redeemed
by the Blood
of the Lamb and worthy to be called God’s sons and daughters.
The group of families had much ahead of them—their congregation
had even more. There would be no dedicated house of worship for
another 26 years,
stained-glass windows were 70 years away, a shattered and shorter
steeple in 80 years, in-door plumbing in 90 years ... and a fire
at 125. Our heritage,
in both Christ and those who met in Ellington township is strong
and secure—may
we, with God’s Grace, continue forward in our new facility
and the opportunities begun by God in 1875 and continuing into
2008.